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Mugambi and Werper were marched away under guard； and
the Belgian learned for the first time； that he too was
a prisoner rather than a guest。 In vain he protested
against such treatment； until a strapping soldier
struck him across the mouth and threatened to shoot him
if he did not desist。
Mugambi took the matter less to heart； for he had not
the slightest doubt but that during the course of the
journey he would find ample opportunity to elude the
vigilance of his guards and make good his escape。
With this idea always uppermost in his mind； he courted
the good opinion of the Abyssinians； asked them many
questions about their emperor and their country； and
evinced a growing desire to reach their destination；
that he might enjoy all the good things which they
assured him the city of Adis Abeba contained。 Thus he
disarmed their suspicions； and each day found a slight
relaxation of their watchfulness over him。
By taking advantage of the fact that he and Werper
always were kept together； Mugambi sought to learn what
the other knew of the whereabouts of Tarzan； or the
authorship of the raid upon the bungalow； as well as
the fate of Lady Greystoke； but as he was confined to
the accidents of conversation for this information； not
daring to acquaint Werper with his true identity； and
as Werper was equally anxious to conceal from the world
his part in the destruction of his host's home and
happiness； Mugambi learned nothingat least in this way。
But there came a time when he learned a very surprising
thing； by accident。
The party had camped early in the afternoon of a sultry
day； upon the banks of a clear and beautiful stream。
The bottom of the river was gravelly； there was no
indication of crocodiles； those menaces to promiscuous
bathing in the rivers of certain portions of the dark
continent； and so the Abyssinians took advantage of the
opportunity to perform long…deferred； and much needed；
ablutions。
As Werper； who； with Mugambi； had been given permission
to enter the water； removed his clothing； the black
noted the care with which he unfastened something which
circled his waist； and which he took off with his
shirt； keeping the latter always around and concealing
the object of his suspicious solicitude。
It was this very carefulness which attracted the
black's attention to the thing； arousing a natural
curiosity in the warrior's mind； and so it chanced that
when the Belgian； in the nervousness of overcaution；
fumbled the hidden article and dropped it； Mugambi saw
it as it fell upon the ground； spilling a portion of
its contents on the sward。
Now Mugambi had been to London with his master。
He was not the unsophisticated savage that his apparel
proclaimed him。 He had mingled with the cosmopolitan
hordes of the greatest city in the world； he had
visited museums and inspected shop windows； and；
besides； he was a shrewd and intelligent man。
The instant that the jewels of Opar rolled；
scintillating； before his astonished eyes； he
recognized them for what they were； but he recognized
something else； too； that interested him far more
deeply than the value of the stones。 A thousand times
he had seen the leathern pouch which dangled at his
master's side； when Tarzan of the Apes had； in a spirit
of play and adventure； elected to return for a few
hours to the primitive manners and customs of his
boyhood； and surrounded by his naked warriors hunt the
lion and the leopard； the buffalo and the elephant
after the manner he loved best。
Werper saw that Mugambi had seen the pouch and the
stones。 Hastily he gathered up the precious gems and
returned them to their container； while Mugambi；
assuming an air of indifference； strolled down to the
river for his bath。
The following morning Abdul Mourak was enraged and
chagrined to discover that this huge； black prisoner
had escaped during the night； while Werper was
terrified for the same reason； until his trembling
fingers discovered the pouch still in its place beneath
his shirt； and within it the hard outlines of its
contents。
16
Tarzan Again Leads the Mangani
Achmet Zek with two of his followers had circled far to
the south to intercept the flight of his deserting
lieutenant； Werper。 Others had spread out in various
directions； so that a vast circle had been formed by
them during the night； and now they were beating in
toward the center。
Achmet and the two with him halted for a short rest
just before noon。 They squatted beneath the trees upon
the southern edge of a clearing。 The chief of the
raiders was in ill humor。 To have been outwitted by an
unbeliever was bad enough； but to have； at the same
time； lost the jewels upon which he had set his
avaricious heart was altogether too muchAllah must；
indeed be angry with his servant。
Well； he still had the woman。 She would bring a fair
price in the north； and there was； too； the buried
treasure beside the ruins of the Englishman's house。
A slight noise in the jungle upon the opposite side of
the clearing brought Achmet Zek to immediate and alert
attention。 He gathered his rifle in readiness for
instant use； at the same time motioning his followers
to silence and concealment。 Crouching behind the
bushes the three waited； their eyes fastened upon the
far side of the open space。
Presently the foliage parted and a woman's face
appeared； glancing fearfully from side to side。
A moment later； evidently satisfied that no immediate
danger lurked before her； she stepped out into the
clearing in full view of the Arab。
Achmet Zek caught his breath with a muttered
exclamation of incredulity and an imprecation。
The woman was the prisoner he had thought safely guarded
at his camp！
Apparently she was alone； but Achmet Zek waited that he
might make sure of it before seizing her。 Slowly Jane
Clayton started across the clearing。 Twice already
since she had quitted the village of the raiders had
she barely escaped the fangs of carnivora； and once she
had almost stumbled into the path of one of the
searchers。 Though she was almost despairing of ever
reaching safety she still was determined to fight on；
until death or success terminated her endeavors。
As the Arabs watched her from the safety of their
concealment； and Achmet Zek noted with satisfaction
that she was walking directly into his clutches；
another pair of eyes looked down upon the entire scene
from the foliage of an adjacent tree。
Puzzled； troubled eyes they were； for all their gray
and savage glint； for their owner was struggling with
an intangible suggestion of the familiarity of the face
and figure of the woman below him。
A sudden crashing of the bushes at the point from which
Jane Clayton had emerged into the clearing brought her
to a sudden stop and attracted the attention of the
Arabs and the watcher in the tree to the same point。
The woman wheeled about to see what new danger menaced
her from behind； and as she did so a great； anthropoid
ape waddled into view。 Behind him came another and
another； but Lady Greystoke did not wait to learn how
many more of the hideous creatures were so close upon
her trail。
With a smothered scream she rushed toward the opposite
jungle； and as she reached the bushes there； Achmet Zek
and his two henchmen rose up and seized her。 At the
same instant a naked； brown giant dropped from the
branches of a tree at the right of the clearing。
Turning toward the astonished apes he gave voice to a
short volley of low gutturals； and without waiting to
note the effect of his words upon them； wheeled and
charged for the Arabs。
Achmet Zek was dragging Jane Clayton toward his
tethered horse。 His two men were hastily unfastening
all three mounts。 The woman； struggling to escape the
Arab； turned and saw the ape…man running t